Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2: Which should you buy?

To be king of the wi-fi earbud hill, an organization should overthrow Apple. Many have attempted to outperform the Cupertino corporate, however none have taken away its lion’s proportion of the marketplace. In our Google Pixel Buds Professional vs AirPods Professional 2 comparability, we see how smartly Google’s earbuds evaluate to Apple’s and if proudly owning an Android telephone prohibits you from the use of the AirPods Professional (2d technology).

Google Pixel Buds Professional vs Apple AirPods Professional 2: At a look

The AirPods Professional (2d technology) and Pixel Buds Professional proportion many options as flagship earbuds, however listed below are the important thing variations:

  • The Pixel Buds Professional retail for $199, and the AirPods Professional 2 retail for $249.
  • There’s no reputable Pixel Buds app for iOS or AirPods app for Android. Most of the earbuds’ options are unique to 1 working machine or the opposite.
  • Android telephone homeowners can equalize the Pixel Buds Professional, whilst there is not any Apple-approved strategy to EQ the AirPods Professional 2.
  • The AirPods Professional 2 have higher noise canceling than the Pixel Buds Professional.
  • The AirPods Professional 2 case is IPX4-rated, and the Pixel Buds Professional case is IPX2-rated.
  • The Pixel Buds Professional have a regular earbud design, and the AirPods Professional 2 function quick stems.

Pixel Buds Professional vs AirPods Professional 2: Specifications

Google Pixel Buds ProfessionalApple AirPods Professional (2d technology)

Dimensions

Google Pixel Buds Professional

Earbud: 23.7 x 22.3 x 22mm
Case: 63.2 x 50 x 25mm

Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology)

Earbud: 30.9 x 24.0 x 21.8mm
Case: 60.6 x 45.2 x 21.7mm

Weights

Google Pixel Buds Professional

Earbud: 6.2g
Case: 56.2g

Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology)

Earbud: 5.3g
Case: 50.8g

Bluetooth connectivity

Google Pixel Buds Professional

Bluetooth 5.0
SBC, AAC

Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology)

Bluetooth 5.3
SBC, AAC

Water resistance

Google Pixel Buds Professional

Earbuds: IPX4
Case: IPX2

Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology)

Earbuds: IPX4
Case: IPX4

Battery lifestyles (listening time)

Google Pixel Buds Professional

Earbuds, ANC on: 7 hours
Case and earbuds, ANC on: as much as 20 hours

Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology)

Earbuds, ANC on: 6 hours
Case and earbuds, ANC on: as much as 30 hours

Charging

Google Pixel Buds Professional

USB-C
Qi wi-fi

Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology)

USB-C
MagSafe wi-fi
Qi wi-fi

Audio {hardware}

Google Pixel Buds Professional

11mm customized dynamic drivers
Force aid vents
Wind-blocking mesh covers

Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology)

Customized high-excursion Apple motive force
Customized excessive dynamic vary amplifier
Force aid vents
Wind-blocking mesh covers

Mics and sensors

Google Pixel Buds Professional

3 mics in keeping with earbud
Voice accelerometer
IR proximity sensor
Movement detecting accelerometer and gyroscope
Contact capacitive sensors

Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology)

Twin beamforming microphones
Inward-facing microphone
Pores and skin-detect sensor
Movement-detecting accelerometer
Speech-detecting accelerometer
Contact regulate

Spatial Audio with head monitoring

Google Pixel Buds Professional

Sure, calls for
Google Pixel 6 collection or Pixel 7 collection operating Android 13+

Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology)

Sure, personalization calls for iPhone operating iOS 16+

Noise canceling

Google Pixel Buds Professional

Sure

Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology)

Sure

Transparency

Google Pixel Buds Professional

Sure

Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology)

Sure, adaptive

Ear tip variety

Google Pixel Buds Professional

S, M, L

Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology)

XS, S, M, L

Colours

Google Pixel Buds Professional

Coral
Fog
Charcoal
Lemongrass

Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology)

White

Unencumber date

Google Pixel Buds Professional

July 28, 2022

Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology)

September 23, 2022

Value

Google Pixel Buds Professional

$199

Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology)

$249

Let’s get the largest distinction out of the way in which: the Pixel Buds Professional price $50 lower than the AirPods Professional 2. With the Pixel Buds Professional, you get lots of the identical options because the AirPods Professional 2. Maximum Android units can use the Pixel Buds Professional options, while the AirPods Professional 2 lock you into Apple units. That mentioned, you’ll nonetheless attach the AirPods Professional to an Android telephone and use the Pixel Buds Professional with an iPhone. Doing so would simply limit you from having access to lots of the following options.

With the Pixel Buds Professional, you’ll use the Pixel Buds app from the Google Play Retailer. This allows you to customise the tap-and-hold command of the buds, make a selection your listening mode, and toggle computerized put on detection on or off. The AirPods Professional 2 have a identical record of choices within the iOS/iPadOS Settings app. In contrast to Apple, Google shall we listeners create a customized sound profile and fix to 2 units concurrently. Apple’s AirPods Professional 2 lack either one of those options.

Google’s five-band EQ got here after the earbuds’ release. Listeners who don’t need to putz round with the customized equalizer bands can use six EQ presets to switch the sound as a substitute. Within the app, you’ll additionally discover a Quantity EQ for the Pixel Buds Professional, which adjusts the bass and treble at the fly. In a similar fashion, Apple has an Adaptive EQ, which is all the time enabled throughout working techniques. This adjusts the bass and mids in actual time in accordance with your ears. The mechanisms range, however the function of Google’s and Apple’s computerized EQs is to breed constant sound high quality in more than a few prerequisites.

Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2nd generation hand holds earbuds

Lily Katz /

Sound high quality and noise canceling are a good bit higher with the AirPods Professional 2 than with the Pixel Buds Professional. However once more, you’ll simply regulate how the Pixel Buds Professional sound from maximum Android units. In the meantime, Apple doesn’t even let iPhone homeowners take regulate in their earbuds’ sound high quality.

So far as design is going, smartly, it’s like evaluating apples to oranges. The AirPods Professional 2 and Pixel Buds Professional don’t glance alike. Apple’s buds have the corporate’s signature stemmed design and drive sensors for controlling media playback and calls. Against this, the Pixel Buds Professional have a stem-free construct with same old faucet and swipe gestures for controlling playback and such. Each units of buds strengthen quantity controls, which isn’t a given amongst wi-fi earbuds. I discovered the AirPods Professional 2 equipped a extra comfy, strong are compatible than the Pixel Buds Professional. Making quantity changes at the Pixel Buds Professional loosened the are compatible, which wasn’t a subject matter with Apple’s buds.

The Google Pixel Buds Professional have an in-app EQ, whilst Apple does not let listeners customise how the AirPods Professional 2 sound.

Apple and Google’s earbuds proportion the similar IPX4 water-resistance ranking, which means they are able to undergo water splashes from any route. The instances are each water-proof, however the AirPods Professional 2 case has an IPX4 ranking. This makes it somewhat extra resilient than the Pixel Buds Professional case’s IPX2 ranking.

You get spatial audio and head monitoring with both set of earbuds when paired to a like minded instrument. For the Pixel Buds Professional, that suggests the use of the earbuds with a Pixel 6 or Pixel 7 collection telephone operating Android 13 or later. For the AirPods Professional (2d technology), having access to customized spatial audio with head monitoring calls for an iPhone with iOS 16 or later. To make the most of those buds’ spatial audio functions, you want to circulation like minded content material from assets like Disney Plus.

Pixel Buds Professional vs AirPods Professional 2: Noise canceling

For the most productive energetic noise canceling (ANC) efficiency between those two earphones, we suggest the AirPods Professional 2. Apple’s ANC edges out Google’s. Low frequencies will sound a slightly quieter with the AirPods Professional 2 than the Pixel Buds Professional. When reviewing the AirPods Professional 2 and Pixel Buds Professional, I may inform that Apple’s ANC canceled extra neighboring development in comparison to the Pixel Buds Professional.

Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2nd generation comparison chart noise caneling attenuation isolation

We will be able to dig into the noise canceling main points with the comparability chart above. The cyan line represents the Pixel Buds Professional, and the dashed crimson line represents the AirPods Professional 2. The upper each and every line, the extra noise the earbuds’ ANC blocks out. As you’ll see above, the AirPods Professional 2 line is constantly greater than the Pixel Buds Professional line.

Relating to noise canceling and isolation, the 0-2,040Hz vary is what you wish to have to pay essentially the most consideration to. In case your earbuds can’t block out this frequency vary, chances are you’ll realize deficient audio high quality in loud areas. As a reminder, the Pixel Buds Professional vs AirPods Professional 2 noise canceling comparability chart displays the earbuds’ ANC with a great are compatible. You might enjoy sub-optimal efficiency in case your earbuds are compatible loosely, so it’s vital to make use of the earbuds’ respective ear tip are compatible checks.

Pixel Buds Professional vs AirPods Professional 2: Sound high quality

Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2nd generation mobile apps

Lily Katz /

Out of the field, the Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology) sound a lot better than the Google Pixel Buds Professional. Apple’s sound profile works smartly with all track genres. The AirPods Professional 2 take care of busy choruses smartly. The earbuds’ bass reaction nonetheless lets in vocals and higher-pitched tools to sound transparent. This isn’t the case with the Pixel Buds Professional.

Apple’s earbuds sound higher than Google’s, however you personalize the Pixel Buds Professional’s sound profile.

By means of default, the Pixel Buds Professional spice up the bass and treble much more than the AirPods Professional 2. When checking out the Pixel Buds Professional and AirPods Professional 2 aspect by way of aspect, I discovered the Pixel Buds Professional made cymbal hits sound some distance too loud. The tune I Am The usa by way of Shea Diamond was once tough to experience with Google’s buds. The AirPods Professional 2, however, made treated this tune a lot better.

As mentioned within the specs phase, the customized equalizer is a big perk of the use of the Pixel Buds Professional with an Android instrument. Listeners can have an effect on how the Pixel Buds Professional sound and tailor it to their personal tastes. In the meantime, with the Apple AirPods Professional 2, you’re on the mercy of Apple’s admittedly just right tuning.

Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2nd generation comparison chart frequency response

Lily Katz /

To dive deeper into our Pixel Buds Professional vs AirPods Professional 2 sound high quality comparability, take a look at the chart above. This visualizes how those units of earbuds sound other from one every other. The cyan line represents the Pixel Buds Professional, and the yellow dotted line represents the AirPods Professional 2. The crimson line represents the SoundGuys Goal Curve; SoundGuys is our audio-focused sister web site.

The Pixel Buds Professional deviate a lot more from the Goal Curve than the AirPods Professional 2. As I heard whilst checking out the buds, treble frequencies will sound as much as two instances louder via Google’s earphones than Apple’s. Whilst particular person personal tastes might stray from the Goal Curve, that is our reference for what maximum listeners will deem just right sound high quality.

Pixel Buds Professional vs AirPods Professional 2: Microphone high quality

In ideally suited prerequisites, each microphone techniques are superb and relay transparent audio. The AirPods Professional 2 make voices sound somewhat louder than the Pixel Buds Professional. Towards the tip of the AirPods Professional 2 microphone demo beneath, audio cutouts accompany that further quantity spice up.

Google Pixel Buds Professional microphone demo (Ideally suited prerequisites):

Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology) microphone demo (Ideally suited prerequisites):

Like the best microphone demos, the AirPods Professional 2 relay louder audio than the Google Pixel Buds Professional in our place of job prerequisites mic demos. The AirPods Professional 2 suppress extra background noise than the Pixel Buds Professional, which is a great factor. But, the tradeoff is that the AirPdos Professional 2 additionally suppress the speaker’s voice every so often. The Pixel Buds Professional don’t block as a lot background noise, that could be distracting from time to time, however the upside is Google’s buds by no means drop the speaker’s voice.

Google Pixel Buds Professional microphone demo (Workplace prerequisites):

Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology) microphone demo (Workplace prerequisites):

Pixel Buds Professional vs AirPods Professional 2: Battery and charging

The Google Pixel Buds Professional have an reputable standalone battery lifestyles of 7 hours with ANC. The charging case supplies an additional 13 hours of ANC track listening. In line with Apple, the AirPods Professional (2d technology) closing six hours with ANC, and the case supplies an additional 24 hours of battery lifestyles.

We ran standardized checks at the Pixel Buds Professional and AirPods Professional 2. After subjecting each and every set of buds to consistent track playback peaking at 75dB (SPL), the battery effects are as follows:

  • AirPods Professional (2d technology), ANC on: 5 hours, 43 mins.
  • Pixel Buds Professional, ANC on: Seven hours, six mins.

In contrast to the Google Pixel Buds Professional, the AirPods Professional 2 have battery optimization to increase the lifetime of the AirPods’ battery cells. This selection prevents the buds from charging previous 80% till you want to make use of them. To make use of this selection, you want a tool operating iOS 15+ or iPadOS15+. It’ll take a while in your iPhone or iPad to be told your listening conduct.

In our checking out, we discovered the Pixel Buds Professional had somewhat higher battery than the second-gen AirPods Professional.

Speedy-charging Google’s or Apple’s earbuds for 5 mins will web one hour of playtime. The Pixel Buds Professional and AirPods Professional 2 instances strengthen Qi wi-fi charging, however Apple takes it a step additional by way of making its case MagSafe-compatible. For stressed charging, you’ll desire a USB-C cable with the Pixel Buds Professional and a Lightning cable with the AirPods Professional (2d technology).

Pixel Buds Professional vs AirPods Professional 2: Value

Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2nd generation earbuds size

Lily Katz /

  • Google Pixel Buds Professional: $199
  • Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology): $249

The Google Pixel Buds Professional price $199, making them $50 inexpensive than the second-gen AirPods Professional. Google’s flagship buds cross on sale round vacations like Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day. We’ve noticed the Pixel Buds Professional promotional pricing cross as little as $149, however you may additionally see them for $169.

The Pixel Buds Professional and AirPods Professional 2 are identical merchandise that cater to other audiences.

The Apple AirPods Professional (2d technology) have a $249 price ticket. Whilst that is dear, Apple’s earbuds aren’t the priciest flagship buds round. The Sony WF-1000XM4 ($178 at Amazon) and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 ($249 at Amazon) authentic costs are greater than the AirPods Professional 2 by way of $30 or extra. Like Google’s earbuds, the AirPods Professional 2 cross on sale across the vacation season. We’ve noticed them on promotion for $199, matching the Pixel Buds Professional retail worth.

Pixel Buds Professional vs AirPods Professional 2: Which earbuds must you purchase?

Google Pixel Buds Pro vs Apple AirPods Pro 2nd generation hero

Lily Katz /

In case you personal an iPhone, the AirPods Professional (2d technology) are a more sensible choice than the Pixel Buds Professional. Pairing the AirPods Professional 2 with an iPhone makes for an impressive, clean enjoy. Device options like battery optimization and customized spatial audio apart, the AirPods Professional 2 have higher ANC than the Pixel Buds Professional. Additional, the sound high quality is far better out of the field. Apple’s stemmed design is probably not for everybody, however I a lot like it to how the Pixel Buds Professional are compatible.

That mentioned, if you happen to personal an Android telephone, the Pixel Buds Professional are a greater worth than the AirPods Professional (2d technology). With the Pixel Buds Professional, you’ll use virtually the entire earbuds’ options on maximum Android telephones and capsules. Certain, Google’s ANC isn’t relatively as just right as Apple’s, but it surely comes shut. Every other win for Google: the corporate allows you to customise the sound.

Which earbuds would you somewhat personal?

18 votes

After all, the Google Pixel Buds Professional and AirPods Professional are very identical merchandise that cater to other audiences. In case you personal an Android telephone, the Pixel Buds Professional make way more sense in your wishes. By means of the similar token, the AirPods Professional 2 make way more sense for iPhone homeowners. You get identical efficiency from each and every set of earbuds; they simply come in several shape elements.

See worth at Amazon

Google Pixel Buds Pro

20%off

Google Pixel Buds Professional

Lively noise-cancelling
Android integration
Google Assistant options

See worth at Amazon

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

8%off

Apple AirPods Professional (2d Era)

Spectacular ANC
Comfy are compatible
Wi-fi charging

FAQs

No, you can’t submerge the Pixel Buds Professional or AirPods Professional 2. Those earbuds are water-proof even though. The Pixel Buds Professional and AirPods Professional 2 each advantage IPX4 rankings, which means they are able to resist water splashes from any route.

The AirPods Professional 2 case works with Qi wi-fi and MagSafe charging pads.

Sure, the Pixel Buds Professional strengthen multipoint connectivity. Pass to the Pixel Buds app > Multipoint > On.